The best RTS at the moment is still Warcraft 3. The new ones really don't offer anything new, just flashier graphics and nastier system reqs. Gameplay wise they are a good 2 or 3 steps backwards.

Other good ones are Myth 2(good luck finding a game though, it's basically dead), Starcraft, World in Conflict is solid.

Rome Total War is a TBS with RTS elements, it is great fun though, Medieval 2 Total War is also great fun. Only the battles are really real time though.

Unfortunately RTS really is struggling lately, most of the games are stale and offer very little, the actual gameplay of Myth 2 still hasn't been matched as far as troop control and the actual battles, that game really was the perfect RTS. Only thing it is missing is the resource gathering and even that is something that in many games you wouldn't miss it.

you're really doing yourself a dis-service if you haven't played company of heroes. It's one of the best RTS games that's come out in a while. C&C 3 also is fantastic but if you're a wc junkie I can see how you might not like the C&C style. Try CoH to keep you company till Starcraft 2 comes out (I'm sure you can get a demo to test it).

Cannonball,
if you're new to RTS genre try C&C 3. Its fast paced, easy to get into, and not overly complicated with multiple tech trees etc.

Black & White is not an RTS btw its more of a sim game. Same for Rome/Medeival total war. Though the total war series is pretty cool in its own right.